The University of Houston instills a spirit of hard work, education and performance in all its students. Those results manifest in many different ways. For the College of Technology, that means it produced the highest scorer on the rigorous American Institute of Constructors exam for the fourth consecutive year. This achievement is no oddity to a school that constantly trains its students to become the best in their chosen fields. Our high-quality programs, seasoned professors, valuable internships opportunities and strong culture of achievement make it no surprise that a Cougar is once again at the top of the pack.

The only thing greater than winning a championship title is doing it twice in a row. The UH Law Center’s mock trial team recently dominated the National Trial Advocacy Competition for its back-to-back win against highly ranked challengers to defend its title. The soon-to-be lawyers went toe-to-toe with students from several competing universities and rose to the top to successfully argue a case that they might face not just in mock demonstrations but also in an attorney’s everyday work environment. University of Houston preps students to win in both scholastic competitions and also their careers.

Before they make their mark in industry, chemists fortify their abilities by studying at the college level in a premier program. College Choice lists the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering as one of those programs. The publication ranks UH as one of the top 25 best places to pursue a chemical engineering degree as well as one of the best state university departments in the country for the same program. With increasing demand for new products and services in these fields, UH is preparing students to broaden their knowledge and launch prosperous careers.

UH students harness their talents to command the highest level of success. Business student JP Dowling exemplifies the caliber of students who enrich their education at Bauer College of Business’ Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. Driven by ambition, Dowling’s leveraged his classroom experience and university connections to strengthen business plans for local nonprofits and launch philanthropic ventures to elevate impoverished countries’ standard of living. His hard work has reaped a wealthy return on his investment. UH’s unique partnership with Warren Buffett – one of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs – allowed Dowling to learn firsthand from one of his most inspiring mentors.

At the University of Houston, students are provided the tools to grow their talents. That’s exactly what Yvonne Ramirez did. To leverage all of UH’s opportunities to boost her education and future success via student involvement, she took full advantage of her options. She joined the Bauer Women’s Society and empowered her voice by launching several social media accounts to tell her story. Robust participation is one of the most noticeable hallmarks of the school as we boast more than 400 student organizations. Our students’ engagement reinforces the college experience’s value and impact.

When art collides with science, grand events occur. Student Anastasiya Kopteva has studied both dance as well as the sciences. She has seamlessly blended the two into several projects throughout the years. She participated in presentations across the country, including one of her most recent achievements — facilitating the Brain On Dance project at the Smithsonian Institution. Kopteva and her colleagues used an electrode-filled skullcap to measure brain signals of a dancer that in turn modulated a system of lights to visually represent the brain's activity. That's how UH students use art and science to enhance both facets.

Amanda Beasley’s influence stretches far. In fact, it spans across borders and languages. She spent a semester learning the Spanish culture and way of life, and her experience inspired her to major in Spanish. Her love of learning about other cultures didn’t stop there, though. She also decided to learn a third language at UH – American Sign Language – and Beasley actively participates in ASL community groups to spur her knowledge. Whether she is speaking in English, Spanish or American Sign Language, she knows she will make a difference both here in Houston and internationally.

From H-Town to The Big Apple, Malcolm Farrell is making all the right moves. A broadcast journalism major, he strengthens his skills and influence at UH by taking part in the Student Video Network and volunteering with the Collegiate 100. His journalistic work on campus includes serving as a news anchor for the student telecasts and creating informational videos. Like many of his colleagues, Farrell transitions the lessons he learns in class into real time productions at every chance. During the summers, he fine-tunes his abilities and extends his professional network through internships in New York City.

Angela Ho proves that humble beginnings can lead to large successes. Growing up in a small town, she was initially attracted to UH because of its size and impressive diversity. Once enrolled here, she heavily involved herself in UH Debate, which helped her find her voice, leadership skills, and a likeminded community. Using this catalyst, she actively pursued an education in both chemistry and business. The mix of interests and exposure to a variety of classes taught her a cross-functional knowledge that equips her with skills to effectively maneuver in the debate hall, the boardroom, and the science lab.

The University of Houston’s collaboration with the Terry Foundation provides opportunities for students to enrich their education and make a difference in the world. Adaobi Ovuegbe embodies all the qualities of Terry scholarship recipients. Driven by a passion for serving those around her, she has used the support to invest in her education as a health major. She served in the UH Wellness department and works in the community to promote overall well-being and healthy living. By doing so, she joins a family of other Cougars who utilize their academic success and personal development to give back to others.

UH Law Center students outperformed their colleagues during this spring’s bar exam. They earned the highest passing rate – 83 percent – outranking the other eight law schools in the state. Receiving the best and the brightest recognition is no strange feat considering where they earned their degree. The UH Law Center established the first part-time law program in Texas, runs the third oldest Intellectual Property Law program in the nation, and ranks number eight in the country by U.S. News & World Report for Health Law. For these 25 new lawyers, they join a storied tradition.

We welcome students from across the world to further their education. We educate people from such an assortment of countries that we rank as the nation’s second most diverse major university. A perfect example of our international presence is Gabby Peraza. Born in Venezuela, she moved to Houston and decided to attend UH. While here, she found a passion in broadcast journalism, which she has used to help tell her story as well as the story of those around her. She says, “Everyone has a place here. No matter what walk of life you come from, you fit into UH.”

Students at the University of Houston hold the power to make a difference both near and far. This semester, 10 UH students are headed to Washington D.C. as part of the Hobby Center for Public Policy’s Leland Fellows program. Once there, they will continue working on their academic studies while also taking part in the day-to-day efforts in the capitol to affect change. Holding positions in the offices of Texas congressmen and women, these Cougars are leveraging their education and opportunities at UH to advance people’s well being on a national scale.

Karen Nerio knows that education is key. As a young girl, she tutored her younger siblings. Now, she leveraged that same passion for helping others in her endeavors as a College of Education student. She already has started working in the local school districts and has built a portfolio of experience that will help her transition into a full-time job upon graduation. As a teacher, she plans to make an impact in other people’s lives, just like she did with her sisters, by helping them understand that education brings power.

University of Houston’s dedication to students earned the nod of approval from an elite group. The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society widely heralded as the gold standard of academic success, has invited us to house a local chapter. This event ushers UH into a rare collection of fewer than 300 colleges across the nation operating a chapter. The vetting process, including thousands of pages of documentation, six years of undergoing evaluation, and a 100-person task force, was a small price considering that it highlights our ongoing record of student and institutional achievement.

UH students repeatedly exemplify our legacy of success. A team from the C. T. Bauer College of Business scored a third-place finish in this year’s Google Online Marketing Challenge. This accomplishment adds to the school’s track record of earning a top-three placement — if not winning — almost every year of participation. That’s no easy task. The competition has fielded more than 100,000 students and professors from nearly 100 countries since it’s founding in 2008 and charges students to apply marketing strategy on the web. The judges consistently agree with us — our students are among the best.

Cougars take initiative to cultivate their own path. A prime example, third year law scholar Garrett Hughey will serve as the upcoming academic year's Student Regent. Hand-selected by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for this role, he'll work in tandem with the governing board of the UH System to best represent the students' needs while also supplementing the university as it excels to new heights. Hughey joins the tradition of the previous nine student regents as well as the plethora of CEOs, judges, lawyers, teachers, social workers, and engineers who graduated from UH and continue making an impact in their community.

Political Science major Serjio Brereda faced a life-changing event when he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder that paralyzed him for several years. Delivered a prognosis of likely never walking again, he surmounted the challenge. He not only fought his way back to mobility through rigorous physical therapy; he co-founded UH’s Adaptive Athletics, an organization that offers athletic programs for students with disabilities. The group was celebrated as UH’s Undergraduate Student Organization of the Year in 2014. This summer, Brereda is traveling the country with Journey of Hope — a group that raises awareness and funds for people with disabilities.

Earning one degree is good. Earning two is even better. Awarded a four-year scholarship, Mable Wan chose to attend UH’s Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. When she finished within 3 years, she decided to apply the remainder of her scholarship toward a second major from the Electrical Engineering program. Her aspiration is to open a business specialized in developing robots to improve people’s quality of life by handling everyday tasks in the home or workplace. With degrees from two of UH’s most prominent programs, Wan is making bold strides toward turning her ideas into commonplace technology.

Reaching top 10 isn’t easy, but Geology major Vanessa Alejandro achieved it by fervently following her passion. Glamour magazine named her one of the country’s “Top 10 College Women” based on her academic success, research initiatives and community-based projects. Alejandro co-founded Warriors of the Wild, a student-led venture that sends volunteers into local schools to perform entertaining skits and demonstrations that teach lessons about biodiversity and conservation. She’s also working with UH students and faculty to develop plans for an “Exploratorium,” an educational play zone proposed for location on campus to serve as a science-themed learning environment for Houston-area youths.

To accept a scholarship is one thing; to create one, another. Just ask Bauer Business Honors program student Alyna Fehmer. A finance major and mother of one, she knew graduating UH demanded a diligent balance between her family obligations, her income and her studies. She understood many fellow students facing monetary adversity would benefit from scholarships, just like she did, to aid them in earning a degree and investing in the future. This thought inspired her to take action by co-founding a student-led, student-funded award — the Bauer Honors Student Advisory Board Scholarship.

When choosing where to pursue an education to further her aspiring career in hospitality, Jackie Castaneda saw only one frontrunner — University of Houston’s Hilton College. Consistently ranked among the top hospitality programs in the world, the school’s curriculum energizes the industry’s future by offering hands-on, real-world experience as students earn their degrees. We’re known for producing high quality professionals who make an immediate impact in their field, making our students highly sought-after by recruiters across the globe. When she graduates, she will join the more than 80 percent of Hilton College alumni who have secured a job before graduation.

UH student Nick Brown defines the pinnacle of achievement. After graduating from our Honors College at age 20, he enrolled in our renowned law school. Ranked as a premier institution by U.S. News & World Report, our law center is one of only eight public schools in the nation with multiple “Top 10” specialty programs. Brown utilizes his aptitude by not only maximizing his legal education but also by serving as Vice President of the Student Bar Association. He demonstrates daily that UH graduates are fortifying the future.

Allina Farrukh proves daily that passionate community involvement begets tremendous societal change. As a pupil in our College of Education, she is sharpening her ability to influence children’s learning development. Farrukh also utilizes UH’s partnerships with local school districts to gain hands-on experience and perfect her pedagogical skills.

Simultaneously, she is bolstering the campus community’s influence abroad. She created a student group — the first chapter of its kind in Texas — that works to eliminate poverty for youth through strategic outreach and fundraising. Farrukh is changing the world, one child at a time.

Our students are powered by ambition. Shaun Smith’s ambition motivated his multiple deployments with the army to create infrastructure and roads, launch agriculture projects, and build schools in foreign countries. Afterward, it inspired him to attend UH where he could flex the same leadership skills he learned in the armed forces. Steered by his passion for service, he currently advocates for the UH student body as the Speaker of the Senate for the Student Government Association. Just like the 40,000 students who attend UH and our 230,000 alumni, Shaun is sculpting both his community and his future.

We’re located at the interarticle of Diversity and Opportunity. Look no further than first generation Cougar Ragde Quintero for the proof. Born in Venezuela and now working on her dual degrees in psychology and civil engineering, she contributes to the bustling international hub known as Houston. With the most culturally diverse city in the country serving as our namesake, it’s no surprise the school ranks as the second most ethnically diverse research university in the United States.

Carlos Hernandez, an Air Force ROTC member, has his sights set on making this world a better and safer place. Hernandez, a psychology major in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, knows that the University of Houston empowers students to not only dream big, but also turn those dreams into a reality. With dreams of becoming an officer in the United States Military, he’s well on his way to completing his mission.

Ody Ezeigwe, a psychology and pre-nursing major in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, knows that the University and City of Houston hold the keys to her future. With the largest medical center in the world set as the backdrop to the campus, the University is in a prime position to lead the health care sector. With visions of becoming a nurse and plans to stay and work in Houston after graduation, Ody is in the driver's seat on the road to success.

Brett Connors, a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is crafting the story of his success. Connors knows that the University of Houston is powering artistic discovery to awaken the senses and shape the cultural landscape. And now, as a published author in UH's nationally respected Creative Writing Program, he’s well on his way to leaving his mark in the world.

Asit Shah, a junior in the Honors College and C.T. Bauer College of Business, is on the road to success. Just like the 160,000 congressmen, legislators, CEOs, astronauts, judges, entrepreneurs, educators, actors, athletes and artists that launched successful careers at the University of Houston.

Shah, who is double majoring in finance and supply chain management and minoring in energy and sustainability, has his sights set on creating a leading renewable company after graduation. UH is fueling his ambition, both inside and outside the classroom.

He was recently appointed to the UH System Board of Regents as the Student Regent by Governor Rick Perry, and is following in the footsteps of many successful Cougars. The Student Regent position began in 2005 when Gov. Perry signed legislation directing each public university’s board of regents to include one non-voting student member. The students have the same powers and duties as regents, but do not vote.

It’s a powerful responsibility, which suits him just fine.

There are thousands of student-run investment funds in the U.S. that offer a predictable real-world investment experience. But the C. T. Bauer College of Business took an innovative approach instead. The Cougar Investment Fund is only one of four student-run funds in the nation that relies on individual investors rather than on endowment funds. It’s real investor money, worked in real time. And our MBA and MS Finance students are thriving under the pressure. In just a decade, the fund has increased value from $2 million to over $9 million through performance and new investment. They give professional investors a run for their money.

The city of Houston and the University of Houston go hand in hand. 1 in 7 Houstonians who have a BA received it from the University of Houston, and Lincoln Scott, a first generation cougar from Virginia, plans on continuing that tradition with plans to live in Houston after graduation. Lincoln, a marketing major at the C.T. Bauer College of Business, is well on his way to launching his career in one of the nation’s fastest growing cities.

The University of Houston’s reputation as a powerhouse in energy, health and the arts grows each year. Determined, diverse and dedicated students are coming to UH in droves. This year we’re breaking records with the highest fall enrollment numbers in our history. 40,959 students. “Our record enrollment reflects the undeniable, palpable energy on display on our campus. It is an exciting time to be a Cougar,” said UH President Renu Khator.

Eric James, an Air Force ROTC member, is well on his way to making the world a safer place. James, a supply chain and logistics technology major, knows that the University of Houston empowers students to not only dream big, but make those dreams a reality. And now, with sights set on continuing his career in the military and achieving the rank of Colonel, that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Mary Davis is writing the business plan for her success. She knows that the University of Houston fuels her entrepreneurial spirit, so she plans to launch an early childhood education business after graduation. As a student in our powerhouse entrepreneurship program, she’s well on her way to launching her career at the University of Houston.